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Family Friendly recommendations and best beaches in Tampa area

Posted on 7/8/24 at 12:49 pm
Posted by Brobocop
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Feb 2018
2100 posts
Posted on 7/8/24 at 12:49 pm
heading to Tampa from Thurs - Tues. Traveling with the wife and our 6yo and 4.5yo.

Recommendations for family fun things to do around Tampa and/or Clearwater?
Posted by h0bnail
Member since Sep 2009
7628 posts
Posted on 7/8/24 at 1:16 pm to
Legoland is pretty fun for kids that age, if you're up to driving ~1 hour.
Posted by BlackenedOut
The Big Sleazy
Member since Feb 2011
6025 posts
Posted on 7/8/24 at 1:28 pm to
Could go to a baseball game if Rays are in town.

Busch Gardens

Dali Museum (just went yesterday fantastic museum).

Go Armature works one night. They sometimes have movies on the lawn.
Posted by wiltznucs
Apollo Beach, FL
Member since Sep 2005
9257 posts
Posted on 7/8/24 at 3:02 pm to
quote:

Recommendations for family fun things to do around Tampa and/or Clearwater?


For kids I recommend the zoo and/or the aquarium. Both are really geared towards younger kids with splash grounds, etc.

There’s the Glazer’s Children’s museum that might be worth hitting too.

Busch Gardens has a section for younger kids; but, not sure if it’s worth the price if you aren’t taking advantage of the other offerings.

As for beaches. Obviously Clearwater is nice and probably closest. If willing to travel south you have Siesta Key. Ft DeSoto is nice as well.
Posted by Jax-Tiger
Vero Beach, FL
Member since Jan 2005
26974 posts
Posted on 7/8/24 at 8:01 pm to
Anna Maria Island is a lot of fun...
Posted by generalgator87
Member since Nov 2022
666 posts
Posted on 7/9/24 at 4:07 pm to
Where are you staying?

I live in Tampa and my family goes to Pinellas County a bunch. If you haven't gotten lodging yet, I would recommend staying at the beach this time of year. I love Indian Rocks/Indian Shores/Redington Beach. The beach and pool is the best activity you can do this time of year with how hot it is. There's a bunch of stuff for kids like Mote Marine in Clearwater, a water park at Indian Rocks and John's Pass is fun but touristy.

Anna Maria down to Long Boat Key is amazing if you are specifically going to the beach, but would not be an easy commute to other stuff in the area.

You could do a day trip to Tampa and do Riverwalk for the aquarium and children's museum, and eat at Sparkman's Wharf or Armature Works. You could park at Ft. Brooke and take the trolley down to the aquarium and it would bring you back. The trolley is free, but unfortunately stops at Ft. Brooke which is the middle of downtown, so you would have to finish the walk from there to the children's museum. I also think there are deals you can get where you get admission to both.
Posted by Brobocop
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Feb 2018
2100 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 12:12 pm to
We’re actually staying in Tampa.

Hotel Tampa Riverwalk.
Thinking of driving into Clearwater for a beach day.
Then making the journey to Lego Land with the kids one day.
Catching the Rays v Yanks tmrw night.
Posted by nicholastiger
Member since Jan 2004
54103 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 2:07 pm to
Pass-a-grille
Posted by generalgator87
Member since Nov 2022
666 posts
Posted on 7/10/24 at 3:10 pm to
Sounds like a pretty good itinerary!

Definitely recommend a beach day, but it is super hot so maybe break up the day with a trip to Mote Marine if you do Clearwater. Fort Desoto (southern tip of Pinellas/south of St. Pete Beach) and Honeymoon Island/Caladesi Island (basically the same thing north of Clearwater) are other options. Both are parks so there is plenty of public parking and are a less touristy and always get ranked as some of the best beaches in the world.

Like I said above, the aquarium and children's museum are great for kids that age. You are in a great area for them. Neither is really a full day trip unless you want to drag it out. Either one takes a couple of hours to knock out.

If you are making a day out of St. Pete, the pier in downtown is pretty cool and would be semi-close to the Trop, but not the best walk. Central Ave. right by the Trop has a ton of great food options.
Posted by MurphyGator
Member since Jul 2021
1745 posts
Posted on 7/11/24 at 12:14 am to
Your kids will enjoy Legoland. My kids enjoyed it more than Disneyworld when they were the age of your kids.
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